There Is Now A Revolutionary 'In-Wheel' Engine For EVs

This may come as a surprise for automative mechanics, but a car without a gearbox or driveshaft may be in the horizon.

This was showcased by the innovative engineers in the electric vehicle design room at China's GAC International, who have developed a motor that is placed in the wheel of an EV. This could potentially eliminate many of the drivetrain's parts, which in turn could cut weight and improve EV range.

According to the story Interesting Engineering, Aptera, the American EV company producing three-wheeled solar-powered cars, has developed prototypes with in-wheel engines. The company also announced this summer that its first production model would be moving forward with a traditional drive unit, according to CleanTechnica, with intentions to pursue in-wheel engines again soon thereafter.

IE and Eco News both reported on GAC's impressive performance of the inline, or in-wheel, motor, starting with 30,000 revolutions per minute at optimum speed.

"Which bests most of the existing electric motors used in present-day electric cars," Eco News wrote.

The attributes also include a compact design, light weight, and strong power output. At a size of around 13 inches in diameter and a weight of just 37 pounds, it can fit into a diverse group of wheel sizes. The motor can provide 201 brake horsepower, which accounts for power lost to road friction, according to IE, Eco News, and Auto Trader.

A lot of EV innovation headlines deal with improved batteries or unique designs. GAC made improvements to another key part of the cleaner rides. The motor arrives in a rising EV market. The International Energy Agency reports that global EV sales hit three million during the first quarter of 2024. That's a 25 percent increase from the same period a year prior. Most of the growth came from sales in China, per the report.